Feeding device for fabric-cutting machines.



No. 693,922. Patented Fan-2s, 19,02 I c. STONE.

FEEDING DEVICE FOR FABRIC CUTTING MACHINES.

(Apflicntion fllod Suns 10, 1901.)

(No Model.)

m WWW- v llllllllll lllll mmm LN/ m.) "BY WITNESSES:

A ram/1.

1m: Nomus PETERS cu, PMOTO-UTNQ, WASKINGTDN D. c.

NrTnD STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CLARENCE STONE, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO ADAMS TOPCUTTING MACHINE COMPANY, OF NEIV YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEWJERSEY.

FEEDING DEVICE FOR FABRIC-CUTTING MACHINES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 693,922, dated February25, 1902.

Application filed June 19, 1901- Serial No. 65,094. (No model.) c

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CLARENCE STONE, a citizen of the United States,residing in the city and county of Philadelphia,in the State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inFeeding Devices for Fabric-Cu tting Machines, of which the following isa full, clear, and exact description,reference being had to theaccompanyingd rawings, forming a part of this specification.

This invention relates generally to that class of fabric-cuttingmachines whereby a flat tubular web is severed into predeterminedlengths-such, for example, as illustrated in United States LettersPatent to Charles F. Adams and Henry F.Adams,No.572,09-i,dated December1, 1896, and No. 616,280, dated December 20, 1S98having referenceespecially to the reciprocating carrier or feeder device whereby thefabric is progressively clamped and fed to the knife or severing device.I-Ieretofore the carrier included in its construction a forward lowerjaw, which was fixed in respect to the carrier, and an upper coactingmovable jaw, which was constructed and arranged to bear upon the fabricinterposed between the two jaws, the forward or acting edges of thelatter bit-ing and clamping said fabric during the forward or feedingstroke of the carrier, yet permitting said carrier to slide freely uponthe fabric during the backward stroke of the device. Owing to the fixedrelation of the lower jaw to the carrier the forward edge of the upperjaw was projected in advance of the opposing edge of the former jaw to agreater or less extent, as determined by the thickness of the interposedfabric, thereby correspondingly, affecting the chicienoy of the clampingaction of the jaws. To overcome this defect is the primary object of myinvention. Accordingly I mount the lower jaw movably on the carrier andconnect the same with the movable upper jaw in such a manner that thetwo jaws are simultaneously and correspondingly advanced or retractedduring the opening and closing, respectively, of the upper jaw, so as tomaintain the forward'edges of the two jaws in .the same relationvertically to each other irrespective of the thickness of the interposedfabric.

The invention also includes novel features of construction, which willbe hereinafter particularly described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of a fabric-feeder embodying myinvention, showing the same as mounted on the table of thefabric-cutting machine. Fig. 2 is a vertical section as on the line 2 2of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse section as on the line 3 3 of Fig.

1. Fig. 4 is a sectional detail of the clamping-jaws,showing theadjustment of the upper A represents the table of the machine, and B thereciprocative fabric-feeder horizontallysnpportedandguidedthereon,asusual. This feeder comprises a skeletonframe 1, at the forward lower portion of which is provideda basalbearing-surface 2 for a horizontallymovable plate 3, which constitutesthe lower clamping-jaw. Theuppercoactingclampingjaw comprises a plate 5,with upwardly-projecting end lugs 6, which are hung loosely on across-rod 7, supported in forwardly-projecting lugs on avertically-movable frame, said frame comprising a cross-bar 8, providedat its ends with vertically-perforated guides 9, through which freelyextend guide-posts 10, rising fixedly from the respective ends of thelower jaw. The cross-bars is pivotally connected at a point midwaybetween its ends with the lower extremity of a link or lever 11, whichis fulcrumed to a rearwardly-exten'ding ing 12 on a transverse cross-baror bracket 13,

1 of the fabric-feeder. The upper extension or arm of this link or leveraffords a thumb-piece,

by manipulation of which the frame, with its appurtenances, may bereadily raised or lowered, as desired. On the forward side of thebracket 13 is pivoted the upper end of an inclined plate let,the lowerend whereof is pivotally connected to the bar 8 by the cross-rod 7, saidplate thus firmly supporting and guiding the frame 8 9 in the verticalmovement of the latter, and also, by its weight, causing said frame,with its attached jaw, to drop normally to clamping position.

By the above-describedconstruction it will be seen that during theupward and downward movement of the upper jaw the lower mounted,preferably adj ustably, on the frame jaw, through its vertically-slidingconnection with the former, is moved forward and backward concurrentlywith the corresponding mOVQDlGHiJS of the upper jaw, thus maintainingthe forward or acting edges of the two jaws in the same relationvertically to each other, irrespective of the thickness of theinterposed fabric. Hence during the advancement of the feeder the actingedges of its clamping members take squarely against the opposing welt inthe interposed fabric in a manner to effectually grip the latter andfeed it forwardly to the cutter. (See Fig. 2.) It will also be seen thatthe independent rocking or tilting movement of the upper jaw permits itsforward edge to tilt downwardly to insure its better engagement with thefabric.

As a simple and efficient means to adapt the feeder for use upon plainfabrics devoid of welts, I provide the plate 14 with a set-screw15,which is so disposed as to bear upon the forward portion of the upperjaw, to the end that by proper manipulation of the screw the forwardedge of the jaw may be tilted downward and maintained in that position,as illustrated in Fig. 4.

A fabric pressure-roll 10 is carried by the free end of a vibratoryframe 17, fulcrumed to a cross-rod 18, supported in the carrierframe inrear of the clam pin g-j aws, the rollerbearing end of said frame beingmaintained yieldingly depressed by the action of a suitably-disposedspring 19 on the cross-rod.

I claim- 1. In a feeder for fabric-cutting machines, the combinationwith the frame or support, of an independent lower jaw horizontallymovable thereon, an upper jaw movable vertically toward and from thelower jaw, and a sliding connection between said jaws, sub stantially asdescribed.

2. In a feeder for fabric-cutting machines, the combination with theframe or support, of an independent lower jaw horizontally movablethereon, a frame or support movable vertically toward and from the lowerjaw, a coactin g jaw on said latterframe or support, and a slidingconnection between said latter frame or support and the lower jaw,substantially as described.

3. In a feeder for fabric-cutting machines,

the combination with the frame or support, of an independently-movablelower jaw thereon, posts on said jaw, a superposed frame movable towardand from said jaw, guides on said frame for the said posts, and a jaw onsaid frame, substantially as described.

4. In a feeder for fabric-cutting machines, the combination with theframe or support, of an independently-movable lowerjaw there on, a frameor support movable vertically toward and from the lower jaw, a coactingjaw on said latter frame or support, a sliding connection between saidframe or support and the lower jaw, a plate or member pivotallyconnecting the two frames or supports, and a link or lever alsopivotally connecting said frames or supports, substantially asdescribed.

5. In a feeder for fabric-cutting machines, the combination with theframe or support, of an independently-movable lowerjaw thereon, a frameor support, a coacting upper jaw pivoted thereon, a sliding connectionbetween said latter frame or support and the lower jaw, a plate ormember pivotally connecting the two frames or supports, adjusting meansin said plate adapted to bear upon the forward portion of the upper jaw,and a link or lever also pivotally connecting said frames or supports,substantially as described.

6. In a feeder for fabric-cutting machines, the combination with theframe or support,

. of an independently-movable lowerjaw thereon, a frame or support, acoacting upper jaw pivoted thereon, a sliding connection between saidlatter frame or support and the lower jaw, a plate or member pivotallyconnecting the two frames or supports, a setscrew in said plate adaptedto bear upon the forward portion of the upper jaw, and a link or leveralso pivotally connecting said frames or supports, substantially asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto affixed my signature in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

OLARENCE STONE.

Witnesses:

ANDREW V. GROUPE, JOHN R. NOLAN.

